mancus

Posted on May 1, 2022 by Hana Videen

mancus, m.n: gold coin (4.25g gold), unit of currency worth 30 silver pence (about a month’s wages for a skilled worker, such as a craftsman or a soldier). (MAHN-kuss / ˈman-kʌs)

Mancus; England, reign of Coenwulf (796-821); British Museum 2006,0204.1. [britishmuseum.org]

gafol

Posted on April 30, 2022 by Hana Videen

gafol, n.n: tax, tribute, rent. (GA-voll / ˈga-vɔl)

bēam-telg

Posted on April 29, 2022 by Hana Videen

bēam-telg, m.n: ink (‘tree-dye’). (BAY-ahm-TELG / ˈbeːam-ˌtɛlg)

basuian

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Hana Videen

basuian, wk.v: to be clad in purple. (BAH-swi-ahn / ˈba-swɪ-an)

Medieval manuscript image of a woman sitting on the ground beside a plant, with her legs in front of her, wearing a long purple dress with white trim; she holds her chin in her hands, with her elbows propped up on her knees, and she has a rather angry or disgusted look on her face; the folio has been cut so the top of her head is missing. — Luttrell Psalter; N England (Lincolnshire), 1325-1340; British Library, Add MS 42130, f. 53r. [bl.uk]

baswa stān

Posted on April 27, 2022 by Hana Videen

baswa stān, m.n: a topaz, a precious stone varying from a yellow to a violet colour. (BAH-swa-STAHN / ˈba-swa-ˌstaːn)

This week’s Wordhord Wednesday post is on darkness and light. Read it on Patreon.

ān-hyrne

Posted on April 26, 2022 by Hana Videen

ān-hyrne, adj: one-horned, having a single horn; (used as substantive) unicorn. (AHN-HUER-nuh / ˈaːn-ˌhyr-nə)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a king looking down upon a grey unicorn with a very long horn who faces a lion; the lion and unicorn are quite small relative to the king. — Les Grandes chroniques de France; France (Paris), 1332-1350; British Library, Royal MS 16 G VI, f. 9r. [bl.uk]

twisprǣcness

Posted on April 25, 2022 by Hana Videen

twisprǣcness, f.n: falseness in speech, detraction. (TWIH-SPRATCH-ness / ˈtwɪ-ˌspræːtʃ-nɛs)

heofon-timber

Posted on April 24, 2022 by Hana Videen

heofon-timber, n.n: structure of heaven, firmament. (HEH-oh-von-TIM-ber / ˈhɛɔ-vɔn-ˌtɪm-bɛr)

ēorod-man

Posted on April 23, 2022 by Hana Videen

ēorod-man, m.n: a horseman, equestrian. (AY-oh-rod-MAHN / ˈeːɔ-rɔd-ˌman)

Medieval manuscript illustration of a woman standing before a knight on a white horse; the knight spears a rather small and harmless looking dragon on the ground. — St George in the Legenda Aurea; France (Paris), 1382; British Library, MS Royal 19 B XVII, f. 109r. [bl.uk]

regn-wyrm

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Hana Videen

regn-wyrm, m.n: earthworm. (RAIN-WUERM / ˈrɛjn-ˌwyrm)

Medieval manuscript illustration of two fat earthworms with little faces rising up out of the soil. — Jacob van Maerlant’s Der Naturen Bloeme; Flanders, c. 1350; Koninklijke Bibliotheek, KA 16, f. 136r. [manuscripts.kb.nl]

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